National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, has stated the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, lacks the appropriate educational background to oversee Nigeria’s economic policies.
Abdullahi stated this on Monday during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today programme noting that although Oyedele is intelligent and competent, managing an economy requires specialised training and expertise.“I’m not saying he’s incompetent, but I think he doesn’t have the right education. Because, look, the issue of subsidy is ideological, and we have to understand where you are coming from. I mean, I’m talking about an economy, this Nigerian economy.
“No, I’m not going personal. Like I said, I have utmost respect for him. And I think he’s quite a smart guy. I’m not taking that away from him.
“But what I’m saying is that the way an accountant reviews an economy is not the same way an economist reviews it. And the same way a classical economist would look at it is not the way a development economist would look at it.” He noted.
Oyedele’s Background
Oyedele attended Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy and Finance, before proceeding to Oxford Brookes University for a BSc in Applied Accounting.
He also completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.
Oyedele spent 22 years at PwC, joining in 2001 and rising to become the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader before his appointment to head the tax reform committee.
